Radio Call of Hallenbeck's Game-Winner

COLUMBUS, Ohio – Freshman forward Alex Hallenbeck (St. Johns, Mich.) hit the game-winning jumper with 12.4 seconds to play as Ohio Dominican's women's basketball team stormed back from a six-point deficit in the final minute to defeat Lake Erie 58-57 Saturday in GLIAC play.

Hallenbeck's heroics capped off a career night for the first-year player as she finished with 12 points and 10 rebounds to notch her first double-double. Sophomore guard Kacee Hockenberry (Haviland, Ohio) poured in a game-high 21 points to lead the Panthers as well.

Trailing 57-51, ODU's defense came up with a stop and Hockenberry finished in transition, drew a foul and made the free throw to bring the Panthers to within 57-54 with 53 seconds left. Sophomore guard Micaela Liddane (Grosse Pointe Woods, Mich.) then came up with a steal on the ensuing inbounds play, drew a foul and sank two more free throws to bring ODU to within 57-56 with 40 seconds to play.

The Panthers' full-court pressure resulted in another steal, as Hockenberry picked off a pass in the frontcourt with just 25 seconds left. ODU took a timeout, and following the stoppage, Liddane drove baseline and dished to Hallenbeck, who sank the eight footer in the lane to put the Panthers in front 58-57.

Lake Erie had a chance to win, but missed a jump shot, grabbed the offensive rebound, and could not come up with a clean shot as time expired.

With the victory, ODU improved to 5-12 (2-12 GLIAC), while the Storm fell to 3-13 (1-12 GLIAC).

The Panthers shot 48.7 percent from the field (19-of-39), compared to 42.9 percent for Lake Erie (21-of-49). ODU held a 31-20 edge on the glass and made 17-of-20 free throws for the contest.

The victory came after the Panthers held a 35-24 lead at the half and took a 13-point advantage early in the second frame.

In the opening 20 minutes, ODU hit 10-of-16 shots (62.5 percent), scoring 10 straight to grab a 10-3 advantage early behind the strength of triples from Liddane Hockenberry.

Lake Erie came back within one, 17-16, before junior forward Katelyn Stuckey (Millersburg, Ohio) made a layup and Hockenberry scored four straight to push it to 23-16 with 7:03 to play. A mini 6-1 run to close the half gave the Panthers their 11-point cushion at the break.

ODU maintained a 44-37 lead at the 11:47 mark before LEC charged back, using an 11-2 surge over the next five-plus minutes to take their first lead since the game's opening moments at 48-46. ODU came back with five straight of its own on a Hockenberry free throw, Hallenbeck layup and Hockenberry jump shot to regain a 51-48 edge with 4:03 left.

The Panthers, though, wouldn't score in the game's next 3:10 as Lake Erie rattled off nine straight to take its 57-51 lead.

For Hallenbeck, it was a season-best in both points and rebounds and she also had a pair of steals. Stuckey chipped in with eight points and nine rebounds, and freshman guard Rachael Torey (Sterling Heights, Mich.) had six steals.

Ohio Dominican returns to the road for a 3 p.m. tip Saturday at Tiffin.

Contact: Scott Miles
miless@ohiodominican.edu